[HOW TO] Get a perfect IDOC timer + Place your own house
Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:59 am
Houses on UOSA will decay if not refreshed within 14 days. The final stage is known as IDOC, or "In danger of collapsing". This period always lasts the exact same amount of time, for each house that decays. Because of this, it is possible to know exactly when the house will actually decay, disappear, and leave its contents and land open for all.
IDOCS, while time consuming and demanding in their schedule, are incredibly easy.
Here is how it works:
1. We know how long house signs say certain things
eg.. we know that once a house becomes Fairly Worn, it will stay that way for four days.
eg.. we know that once a house becomes Greatly Worn, it wills tay that way for three days.
eg.. we know that once a house becomes In Danger of Collapsing, it will stay that way for 17 hours and 20 minutes*.
2. If you catch the exact moment that the last stage (In danger of collapsing) starts, you therefore know when it ends! 17 hours and 20 minutes later.*
3. It is easy to determine this exact moment, because we can use Razor to find it for us while we are off doing other things in game or sleeping.
* If the server resets during this period, add the entire time from Last Save until when the server returns. eg, if server saved at 7:00am, went down at 15 minutes, and is back up at 21 past, you add 21 minutes. This is why idoc windows fluctuate between 17:19 and 18:00 hrs in length.
So what is the macro, you wonder? Well - again, very simple. You tell Razor to take a screenshot when it sees the sign change. When you return to your computer, you can check the screenshot for a timestamp (either Windows or Razor timestamp). Here is a basic one:
Use skill: Hiding
Pause 10 Seconds
Use skill: Item ID
Target 'Greatly Worn' Sign
If 'Collapsing' = Exec Take Screenshot Now
Pause 60 minutes
End if
Pause 10 Seconds
AAAaaaaannnndd that is pretty much it. You don't even need GM item id, but it helps. Here is a template for one of my main IDOC chars:
1. Hiding
2. Item ID
3. Stealth
4. Tracking
5. Magery
6. Meditation
7. Wrestling
When I get home I'll post a picture to help you divide the map into portions, keep track of where you've inspected, and divvy up the scouting work between friends.
If you find this guide benefits you (it will), feel free to drop me a line and invite me to your nicely timed IDOCS.
On placing large houses:
If you're trying to place the entire land plot for example, a Keep, the best way to do it is to take some kindling/bedroll and log out 3-4 characters in the area, with house deeds in their pack. This means you can just place houses and instantly run in them, log out and then in on another char. Start with three accounts there and three logged out is pretty good odds. I've placed entire castle/keeps in this way. Personally, I never bothered holding grudge/blocker houses as its better for everyone if you just let em go and keep your housing slots free for whatever IDOC comes next.
On placing any house:
Your UO window needs to be in the absolute top left of your Windows window. Push it ALL the way up there. This will calibrate your house placing mechanic.
How do I go about scouting for IDOCS?
Run through the world single clicking house signs. Mark a rune if it is Fairly, Greatly or In danger of collapsing. Ideally, you find them Greatly. If you find them at fairly you have an even better idea of when it will turn IDOC or when to leave your Item ID char there.
I always marked my runes into three bags which I stored in a shared Patio with my guildmates.
One bag for FW, one bag for GW, one bag for IDOC. Name the runes by their location and date/sign status.
Alright y'all. Good luck!
IDOCS, while time consuming and demanding in their schedule, are incredibly easy.
Here is how it works:
1. We know how long house signs say certain things
eg.. we know that once a house becomes Fairly Worn, it will stay that way for four days.
eg.. we know that once a house becomes Greatly Worn, it wills tay that way for three days.
eg.. we know that once a house becomes In Danger of Collapsing, it will stay that way for 17 hours and 20 minutes*.
2. If you catch the exact moment that the last stage (In danger of collapsing) starts, you therefore know when it ends! 17 hours and 20 minutes later.*
3. It is easy to determine this exact moment, because we can use Razor to find it for us while we are off doing other things in game or sleeping.
* If the server resets during this period, add the entire time from Last Save until when the server returns. eg, if server saved at 7:00am, went down at 15 minutes, and is back up at 21 past, you add 21 minutes. This is why idoc windows fluctuate between 17:19 and 18:00 hrs in length.
So what is the macro, you wonder? Well - again, very simple. You tell Razor to take a screenshot when it sees the sign change. When you return to your computer, you can check the screenshot for a timestamp (either Windows or Razor timestamp). Here is a basic one:
Use skill: Hiding
Pause 10 Seconds
Use skill: Item ID
Target 'Greatly Worn' Sign
If 'Collapsing' = Exec Take Screenshot Now
Pause 60 minutes
End if
Pause 10 Seconds
AAAaaaaannnndd that is pretty much it. You don't even need GM item id, but it helps. Here is a template for one of my main IDOC chars:
1. Hiding
2. Item ID
3. Stealth
4. Tracking
5. Magery
6. Meditation
7. Wrestling
When I get home I'll post a picture to help you divide the map into portions, keep track of where you've inspected, and divvy up the scouting work between friends.
If you find this guide benefits you (it will), feel free to drop me a line and invite me to your nicely timed IDOCS.
On placing large houses:
If you're trying to place the entire land plot for example, a Keep, the best way to do it is to take some kindling/bedroll and log out 3-4 characters in the area, with house deeds in their pack. This means you can just place houses and instantly run in them, log out and then in on another char. Start with three accounts there and three logged out is pretty good odds. I've placed entire castle/keeps in this way. Personally, I never bothered holding grudge/blocker houses as its better for everyone if you just let em go and keep your housing slots free for whatever IDOC comes next.
On placing any house:
Your UO window needs to be in the absolute top left of your Windows window. Push it ALL the way up there. This will calibrate your house placing mechanic.
How do I go about scouting for IDOCS?
Run through the world single clicking house signs. Mark a rune if it is Fairly, Greatly or In danger of collapsing. Ideally, you find them Greatly. If you find them at fairly you have an even better idea of when it will turn IDOC or when to leave your Item ID char there.
I always marked my runes into three bags which I stored in a shared Patio with my guildmates.
One bag for FW, one bag for GW, one bag for IDOC. Name the runes by their location and date/sign status.
Alright y'all. Good luck!
